Transfer mechanism for production of printing plates



Aug. 16, 1932. G, G EB 1,872,273

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR PRODUCTION OF PRINTING PLATES Filed 001:. B, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Aug. 16, 1932. G. GOEBEL 1,872,273

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR PRODUCTION 'OF PRINTING PLATES Filed 001:. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4; ATTORNEY.

Patented 16, 193 2- 7 UNITED STATES .VP'ATENT'J- oFFI-ca GEORGE GOEBEL, OF CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO CROWN CORK & SEAL COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION O! NEW YORK TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR PRODUCTION O! PRINTING PLATES Application filed October 8, 1980. Serial No. 487,288.

The invention relates to transfer mechanisms for production of printing plates, and more partlcularly to a mechanlsm b WhlCh a design is photographically repro uced a number of times upon a zinc or other plate for use in an offset planographic printing machine.

In the production of bottle caps of the crown type it is the practice to form the metal 10 shells embodied in such caps from t1n plate sheets having impressed thereon a lithographed decoration, generally clrcular 1n form, a number of shells belng simultaneously formed with each actuation of the stamp press. It is not only essential that the decora tive designs be positioned with great-"accuracy in order to ensure a proper centerlng of the design in relation to the top of the cap, but that each design upon the printing plate be as nearly identical as possible with every other design as to the strength of the impression, in order that all decorated caps produced be as nearly alike as possible.

To secure this result, the photo-engraver has heretofore been required to exercise the highest skill, and the destruction of plates, by reason of failure of the mechanism used by the workmen has been a matter of frequent occurrence, thus greatly increasing the cost of production of the work. The destruction of a plate, as used above, refers to the presence of improperly developed and etched designs in one or more places upon the plate which prevents the use of the plate, and necessitates the removal of all of the designs and the remaking of the plate as a whole.

The above conditions resulted from the short exposure interval required during the transfer operation, an unavoidable variation in the time interval of the exposure due to the use of a mechanical camera shutter, and the inability of the operator to accurately gauge the time interval of exposure of the plate.

With the above conditions in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a shutter are avoided.

transfer mechanism for production of printing plates, the electrical and mechanical characteristics of which are such as to ensure absolute accuracy and uniformity in the timing of the exposure of each succeeding portion of the printing plate upon which the design of the decoration is reproduced, thus ensuring substantial uniformity in the strength of all of the designs impressed upon a plateand corresponding uniformity in the depth of the etch as to each design.

In the mechanism of the invention, no shutter for controlling the duration of the exposure is employed and all of the difficulties arising from wear upon the shutter mechanism, variation in the strength of the spring actuating the same and the jamming of the The exposure for the desired time interval is assured by impressing upon a suitable electric lamp an electric current, the flow of which is controlledbyamechanicallyactuated switch mechanism driven by an electric motor and controlled by an electro-magnetic clutch mechanism, the supply of current to which is controlled in part by a manually actuated switch mechanism, and in part by a power driven switch mechanism actuated through the same mechanisms actuating the switch mechanism controlling the current to the lamp within the camera box. This construction permits the making of intermittent exposures under the manual control of the photo-engraver, which is necessary to enable him to shift the position of the camera in order to successively expose contiguous portions throughout the entire area of a plate.

The mechanism of the invention has no small delicate parts, requires no great nicety in the adjustment of any of the parts, and effects the desired timing of the exposure in a manner ensuring substantial uniformity in the timing of each exposure. Any slight variation in the working conditions during each cycle of operations of the mechanism,

will be the same as to each cycle or will vary so minutely as to have no effect whatever upon the quality of the design impressed upon the sensitized plate.

The construction and arrangement of the mechanically actuated switch mechanisms is such as to permitrapidity in the making of succeeding impressions, the only delays in volved bein those incidental to the shifting of the position of the camera as a whole.

The invention consists rimarily in a transfer mechanism for pro uction of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate,

mechanically actuated timing means controlling the circuit to said source of light, and mechanically actuated means controlling said timing means; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

'Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the contact mechanism controlling the application of power to the timing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged view of the contact mechanism controlling the circuit to the source of light;

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the electrical conditions in the mechanism.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a fragmentary portion of the gauge plate for ensuring accuracy in the positioning of the duplicated reproductions upon the rinting plate is shown at 10, the openings t rough this plate being indicated at 11. Each opening 11 is adapted to receive a lens head 12 carried by a camera box 13, this lens head having a close sliding fit in any opening 11. The detailed construction of the camera box 13 is immaterial to the invention and such is therefore not shown in the drawings. The negative mount is indicated at 14. 4

Mounted within the camera box 13 is a source of light 15 which may be an ordinary incandescent lamp bulb.

The openings 11 in the plate 10 are accurately positioned and finished since the proper placing of the reproductions upon the printing late is dependent upon this plate 10.

g It isto e noted that no shutter is employed in connection with the lens head, the duration of the exposure being controlled by the timing of the energization of the lamp 15, which timing is controlled by a mechanically actuated switch mechanism which will now be described.

Mounted upon a suitable bed plate 16 are bearings 17 and 18 for a shaft 19. Carried by and rotatable with this shaft is a switch member consisting of a core 20 of electrononconductive material carrying an arcuate contact plate 21 of electro-conductive material. Mounted upon the plate 16 are spring contact members 22 and 23, both of which are adapted to simultaneously engage either the contact plate 21 or the electro-nonconductive core 20 carrying such plate. One of the contacts, as 22, is in direct electric connection through a lead 24 with one terminal of the lamp 15. The other contact 23 is in direct electric connection with one side of an electrical source through a lead 25.

The lead 24 is electrically connected with a binding post 26 with which one terminal 27 of the lamp 15 is also in electric connection. The lead is connected with a binding post 28 with which one side 29 of the main is also connected. The other side 30 of the main is connected with a bindin post 31, with which the other terminal 32 of the lamp 15 is connected through the lead 32 by means of a binding post 33 connected by the lead 34 with the bindin post 31.

Carried iy and rotatable with the shaft 19 is a clutch member 35 co-operating with a clutch member 36 carried by a core 37 of an electro-receptive device, preferably a solenoid 38.

Mounted upon the bed plate 16 is a small electric motor 39 which, while the mechanism is in use, is continuously driven. The motor 39 drives a worm shaft 40 enmeshed with a worm wheel 41 carried by a shaft 42, splined or otherwise slidably connected with the core 37, as indicated at 43. Acting upon the shaft 19 is a spring 44 having a normal tendency to disengage the clutch member 35 from the clutch member 36.

The terminals of the motor 39 are connected with the sides 29 and 30 of the main by the leads 45 and 46, this connection being entirely independent of any of the switch mechanisms controlling the circuits to the source of light 15, and to the solenoid 38.

One terminal of the solenoid 38 is in direct electrical connection with the side 30 of the main through the binding the other terminal of said solenoid is in electrical connection with the other side 29 of said main through manually and mechanically actuated switch mechanisms, which will now be described.

Carried by the bed plate 16 is a doublethrow manually operative switch mechanism 47 having fixed contacts 48 and 49 and a movable contact 50 actuated by means of a push button 51. This switch box may be of any 0st 31, and a desired construction, and therefore the detailed mechanism for throwing the movable contact is not shown and will not be scribed, since this and such mechanisms a e well known.

The movable contact member 50 is electrically connected by the lead 52 with a binding post 53, with which a lead 54 from one terminal of the solenoid 38 is also electrically connected. The fixed contact 48 is in electrical connection through a lead 55 with the binding post 56, while the fixed contact member 49 is in electrical connection through a lead 57 with a binding post 58.

While the circuit to the solenoid 38 is iniitally controlled by the manually operative switch mechanism, the timing of the uration of the energization of the solenoid is controlled by a mechanically actuated switch mechanism. This mechanically operative switch mechanism comprises a shaft 59, carrying a core of 60 of electro-nonconductive material. Carried by this core is a contact member having a continuous circular portion 61, and two diametrically opposite arcuate portions 62 and 63, each of which extends through substantially 180 in arc. The portions 61, 62 and 63 are electrically connected with each other, preferably being integrally formed. The shaft 59 is mounted in bearings 64 and 65 upon the bed plate 16, and is counter to the shaft 19.

Co-operating with the portion 61 of the contact member carried by the core 60 is a spring contact member 66, and co-operating with the arcuate portions 62 and 63 are spring contact members 67 and 68. The contact member 66 is in electrical connection with one side 29 of the electric main through a lead 69 and the lead 2-5. The contact member 62 is in electrical connection with the fixed contact 49 through a lead 70 and the binding post 58, while the contact member 63 is in electrical connection through a lead 71 and the binding post 56 with the contact 48. It will thus be noted that one side 29 of'the electric mains may be selectively placed in electrical connection with the solenoid 38 through one or the other of the arcuate contact members 62 and 63, according to the setting of the movable switch member 50.

Carried by the shaft 19 is a small gear 72 which is enmeshed with a gear 73 upon the shaft 59, the ratio of these gears being as 1 to 2, for purposes which will more fully apspring contact members from the bearing surface of the electro-conductive portions to the electro-nonconductive portions. This, however, is merely a refinement. It is desirable, however, since it permits the undercutting of the end of the arcuate portion of the electro-conductive members, which has been found highly desirable as avoiding sparking at the contacts, which is not desirable in the presence of a sensitized plate. The undercut portion of the contact 21 is shown at 74, and theundercut portion of the contact 62 at 75, the undercut portion of the contact 63 being indicated at 7 6.

The bed plate 16 is preferably mounted upon and carried by the camera box 13, the weight of the mechanism being sufficiently low to permit this arrangement without inconvenience to the photo-engraver.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows In producing a printing plate by a transfer operation with a mechanism embodying the invention, a plate bearing a single design is positioned in the mount 14, and power from the electric mains is applied to the motor 39 which runs continuously, the clutch members 35 and 36 being normally disengaged one from the other by the spring 44, and the shaft 19 carrying the gear 72 remaining stationary.

When this condition is established, the photo-engraver inserts the lens head 12 in one of the openings 11 of the gauge plate 10, which gauge plate is so positioned in relation to a support for the printing plate as to ensure a proper focal distance of the printing plate from the lens. WVhen the camera box 13 is thus properly supported from the plate 10, the operator pushes the button 51, shifting the movable contact member 50 from engagement with the fixed contact member 49 and engaging it with the fixed contact mem ber 48, which relation of parts is indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

This actuation of the manually operative switch sets up a current flow from the side 29 of the electric main, through the leads 25 and 69 and brush 66 to the circular portion 61 of the contact member carried by the shaft 59; through this contact member to the arcuate portion 63 thereof; through the brush 68, and the leads 71 and 55 to the fixed contact 48; through the movable contact 50, and lead 52 to the winding of the solenoid 38 and through said winding to the other side 30 of the main. The energizing of said solenoid causes movement of shaft 19 to the left, Figs. 1 and 2, and engagement of the clutch member 35 with the clutch member 36, thus imparting rotary movement to the shaft 19.

With the initial rotation of the shaft 19, the core 20 and its contact plate 21 receives rotary movement. Said contact member being engaged with both brushes 22 and 23 a circuit is closed from one side 29 of the main through the lead 25, the brush 23, the contact plate 21, the brush 22 and the leads 24 and 27 to one terminal of the lamp 15, the circuit being completed through the leads 32 and 34 and the other side 30 of the main.

The duration of the energization of the lamp-15 is determined by two factors, the degrees in are of the contact member 21 and the speed of the shaft 19 By using a worm shaft and gear transmission between the motor 39 and the core 37 of 'the solenoid a deslred low speed of the shaft 19 is secured. It IS essential, however, that the clutch members 35 and 36 be engaged with each other during one full rotation of the shaft 19 to ensure the desired interval of incandescence of the lamp 15, and that they be disengaged upon the completion of its rotation so as to interrupt the movement of the shaft 19 following the completion of the interval of meandescence of the lamp 15, and until the contact member 21 has been brought to a position where, upon the next actuation of the shaft 19, it will be so positioned as to engage the spring contact members 22 and 23 immediately following the energizing of the winding of the solenoid 38 upon the next actuation of the movable contact member 50. This condition also ensures a proper timing of the functioning of the contact member 21 with relation to the timing of the control of the circuit to the solenoid by the contact members 61 and '62 or 63 and their co-operating spring contacts.

It will be noted that the rotation of the shaft 19 continues after the disengagement of the brush contacts 22 and 23 with the contact plate 21, and that these brushes, as they pass from engagement with the contact plate 21, snap into engagement with the core 20 of electro-nonconductive material. The undercut portion 74 of the contact plate 21 results in a very rapid breaking of the contact, and the thickness of said plate avoids any possibility of sparking immediately following the interruption of the circuit at said plate 21.

As the shaft 19 rotates, the gear 72 carried thereby imparts rotation to the shaft 59 through the gear 73, the speed of this shaft being one-half that of the speed of the shaft 19. Since the portion 63 of the electro-conductive sleeve carried by the core 61 extends throughout 180 in arc, it is obvious that the circuit to the winding of the solenoid 38 will be maintained throughout one-half of the revolution of the shaft 59, and during one full revolution of the shaft 19. Upon the completion of one-half revolution of the shaft 59, the spring contact member 68 snaps out of engagement with the portion 6'3 and engage the electro-nonconductive core 60 car ried by the shaft 59. The undercut portion 7 6 prevents sparking when the contact is broken in the same manner that the undercut portion 74 of the plate 21 prevents sparkmg.

As the spring contact member 68 passes out of engagement with the portion 63, the spring contact member 67 is engaged with the portion 62, thus electrically connecting the circular portion 61 through the arcuate portion 62, spring contact 67 and leads and 57 with the fixed contact member 49.

With the opening of the circuit as a result of the disengagement of the spring contact member 68 with the portion 63 of the rotary contact member, the circuit to the winding of the solenoid 38 is interrupted and the clutch members 36 and 35 are disengaged so as to instantly interrupt the movement of the shaft 19 at a time when both contact members 22 and 23 are engaged with the electro-nonconductive core 20 carried by said shaft. This occurs after the circuit to the lamp 15 has been interrupted by the disengagement of the spring contact members 22 and 23 from the contact plate 21 so that the rotary contact carried by the shaft 59 does not in any way control the time interval of the exposureexcept insofar as the timing of the interruption of the application of power to the shaft 19 will establish a proper timing of the initiation of the engagement between the rotary contact plate 21 and the spring contacts 22 and 23. Immediately following the interruption of the circuit to the lamp 15, the photoengraver, if he so desires, may shift the mechanism in its entirety and as the lens head through an adjacent opening 11 in the plate 10, so that upon the interruption of the circuit to the winding of the solenoid 38 the mechanism will already be in position for the makingofthe succeeding transfer, which only requires the actuation of the movable contact member 50 to disengage it from the contact 48 and engage it with the contact 49.

It is desired to emphasize that the interval of illumination is determined solely by the speed of the shaft 19 and by the length of degrees in arc of the contact plate 21, and that the functioning of the shaft 59 and its appurtenances is merely to limit the movement of the shaft 19 with each actuation of the movable contact 50 to one full revolution and to ensure accuracy in the timing of the initiation of rotary movement of the shaft 19, and of the stoppage of such shaft.

The mechanismpf the invention may be employed with either a source of alternating or direct current, it being necessary, however, to construct the solenoid to adapt it to the kind of current with which the mechanism is to be used. V

Great accuracy in the functioning of the device is assured, since the shaft 59 is controlled mechanically from the shaft 19, and the functioning of the shaft 19 is controlled through the electrical contact members actuated bythe shaft 59. The clutch members and 36 are controlled by the solenoid 38 determining the functioning of both shafts 19 and "59. 0

By controlling the interval of illumination of the lamp 15, necessity for the employment of a shutter mechanism, and irregularity in the timing of the exposure, due to disarrangement of the shutter mechanism, or variance in the time of the exposure, due to difficulties encountered in securing absolute uniformity in the action of such a mechanism, are avoided. By the use of the mechanism of the invention a series of transfer operations may be effected with much greater rapidity than with a shutter controlled lens, and the exosure interval will be exactly the same durmg each transfer operation, since the speed of the shaft 19 is always the same, and any variation in the timing of the engagement .of the clutch members 35 and 36 will have no effect upon the functioning of the automatically acting switch mechanism, so far as the lighting interval is concerned. I

Since, with each actuatlon of the movable switch member 50, the shafts 19 and 59 each have one full cycle of o erations which cannot be controlled or modified in any way by the operator, it is obvious that the exposure interval will be identical as to each transfer operation.

The arrangement of spring contacts and rotary contact plates is such as to avoid the necessity for the use of small delicate parts, and the size and strength of these parts not 7 only minimizes wear but avoids any possibility of such a disarrangement of parts as would interfere with the functioning of the mechanism. If wear occurs upon the rotary contact members it will be so slight as to have no appreciable effect upon the duration of the illumination interval, and should it have any such effect, the variation will be the same as to each transfer operation.

By the use of the mechanism of the inven- 5 tion, each design transferred upon the printing plate will upon the development of the plate be exactly the same as every other deslgn.

I am not only enabled to more rapidly 3 transfer a multiplicity of duplications of a carrying a rotatable contact member with a I mechanical driving member to close a circuit to a source of light positioned within a camera having a shutterless lens; the mechanical rotation of a contact member to maintain the circuit to said electro-receptive device during one rotation of the shaft carrying the contact member controlling the circuit to the light source; the interruption of the circuit to the light source after a part only of the rotation of the contact member controlling same, and the interruption of the circuit to the electro-receptive device to release said clutch mechanism upon the completion of one revolution of the shaft carrying the contact controlling the circuit to the light source.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openin s in said gauge plate, mechanically actuate timing means controlling the. circuit to said source of light, and mechanically actuated means controlling said timing means.

2. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openin therein, a camera box, a source of light t erein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously-operating motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a clutch member carried by said shaft, a second shaft,

a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light, and means whereby said clutch members are engaged'during one revolution of said contact carrying shaft.

3. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced ually therein, a camera. box, a source of openin fi rein, a lens head carried thereby light t and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operatin motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a clutc said counter shaft controlling the circuit to' said electro-receptive device, and a manually operative switch controlling the circuit including said last named contact and said electro-receptive device.

4. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operatin motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a soleno1d having its core slidably and rotatabl connected with said shaft, and having clutc surfaces thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft controllin the circuit to said source of light, a mec anically operated switch mechanism, and a manually operative switch mechanism, said manand said mechanically operated switch mec anisms being in circuit with said solenoid.

5. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge I plate, a continuously operating motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a solenoid having its core slidably and rotatably connected with said shaft, and having clutch surfaces thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light, a shaft counter to, and driven from, said second shaft, a contact member carried by said counter shaft controlling the circuit to said solenoid, and a manually opactuated thereby, a clutch member carried by said shaft, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and an arcuate electro-conductive plate carried thereby, spring contacts co-operating with said contact member, one

of said s ring contacts being connected with one terminal of said lightmg source, and the other being connected with a source, and

.means whereby said clutch members are enaccurately fit the openings in said gau e late,

a continuously operating motor, a s a t actuated thereby, a clutch member slidably mounted upon said shaft, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light, an.

electro-receptive device operative upon said slidable clutch member, a shaft counter to, and driven from, said second shaft, a contact member carried by said counter shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and a contact plate comprising a circular and two diametrically opposite arcuate portions,

spring contacts co-operating with said portions respectively, and a double-throw, manually operative switch having its movable contact electrically connected with said electro-receptive device, the sprin contact engagingthe circular portion 0 said contact plate being in electrical connection with a source, and the spring contacts co-operating with the arcuate portions of said plate bein connected with the fixed contacts of sai manually operative switch respectively.

8. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of 1i ht therein, a' lens head carried thereby an adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operatin motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a solenoid iaving its core slidably and rotatably connected with *said shaft, and having clutch surfaces thereon, a

second shaft, a clutch member carried there by, a contact member carried by said second shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and an arcuate electro-conductive plate carried thereby, spring contacts co-operating with said contact member, one of said spring contacts being connected with one terminal of said lighting source, and the other being connected with a source, a mechanicall operated switch mechanism, and a manual y operative switch mechanism, said manually and said mechanically operated switch mechanisms being in circuit with said solenoid.

navaavs 9. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings shaft actuated thereby, a solenoid having its core slidably and rotatably connected with said shaft, and having clutch surfaces thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and an arcuate electro-conductive plate carried thereby, spring contacts co-operating with said contact member, one of said spring contacts being connected with one terminal of said lighting source, and the other being connected, with a source, a shaft counter to, and driven from, said second shaft, a contact member carried by said counter shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and a contact plate comprising a circular and two diametrically opposite arcuate portions, spring contacts co-operating with said portions respectively, and a double-throw, manually operative switch having its movable contact electrically connected with said electro-receptive device, the spring contact engaging the circular portion of said contact plate being in electrical connection with a source, and the spring contacts co-opcrating with the arcuate portions of said plate being connected with the fixed-contacts of said manually operative switch respectively.

10. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of 1i ht therein, a lens head carried thereby an adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operating motor, a'

shaft actuated thereby, a clutch member carried by said shaft, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and an arcuate electro-conductive plate carried thereby, spring contacts co-operating with said contact member, one of said spring contacts being connected with one terminal of said lighting source, and the other being connected with a source, one edge of said plate being undercut to avoid sparking upon the disengagement of said spring contacts with said plate, and means whereby said clutch members are engaged during one revolution of said contact carrying shaft.

11. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit'the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operating motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a clutch member slidably mounted upon said shaft, a second shaft, a clutch member carried tliereb a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light,-

an electro-receptive device operative upon said slidable clutch member, a shaft counter to, and driven from, said second shaft, :1. contact member carried-by said counter shaft consisting of an electro-nonconductive core and a contact plate comprising a circular and two diametrically opposite arcuate portions, spring contacts co-operating with said portions respectively, and a double-throw manually operative switch havin its movable contact electrically connecte engaging t e circular portion of said contact plate being in electrical connection with a source, and the spring contacts co-operating with the arcuate portions of said plate being connected with the fixed contacts of said manually operative switch respectively, the arcuate portions of said contact plate being undercut to avoid sparking upon the disengagement of said spring contacts with said late. p 12. A transfer mechanism for production of'printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings.

therein, a camera box, asource of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operating motor, a shaft actuated thereby, a clutch member slidably mounted upon said shaft, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light, an electro-receptive device operative upon said slidable clutch member, a shaft counter to said second shaft, said second shaft and the shaft counter theretobeing geared together in a ratio of one to two, a contact member carried by said counter shaft controlling the circuit to said electro-receptive device, and a manually operative switch controlling the circuit including said last named contact and said electro-receptive device.

13. A transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge with said velectro-rece tive device, the spring contact .plate, a continuously operating motor, a Y

shaft, a worm shaft and wheel connection between said shaft and said motor, a solenoid having its core slidably and rotatably connected with said shaft, and having clutch surfaces thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a spring normally disengaging the clutch member upon said shaft with said clutch surfaces, a contact 5 said counter shaft controlling the circuit to said solenoid, and a manually operative switch controlling the circuit "includlng said last named contact and said solenoid.

14. A transfer mechanism for production 0 of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, a continuously operating motor, a shaft, a worm shaft and wheel connection between said shaft and said motor, a solenoid having its core slidably and rotatably connected with said shaft, and having clutch surfaces thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member carried thereby, a spring normally disengaging the clutch member upon said shaft with said clutch surfaces, a contact member carried by said second shaft controlling the circuit to said source of light, a shaft counter to, and driven from, said second shaft, a contact member carried by said counter shaft consisting of an eletrononconductive core and a contact plate comprising a circular and two diametrically opposite arcuate portions, spring contacts cooperating with said portions respectively, and a double-throw, manually operative switch having its movable contact electrically connected with said solenoid, the spring contact engaging the circular portion of said contact plate being in electrical connection with a source, and the spring contacts co-operating with the arcuate portions of said plate being connected with the fixed contacts of said manually operative switch respectively.

15. In a transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fit the openings in said gauge plate, means controlling the exposure interval embodying therein a source of light, mechanically actuated timing means controlling the circuit to said source of li ht, manually operative means controlling t 1e application of power to said timing means, and mechanically actuated means controlling the duration of the actuation of said timing means.

16. In a transfer mechanism for production of printing plates embodying therein a gauge plate having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a camera box, a source of light therein, a lens head carried thereby and adapted to accurately fitthe openings in said gauge plate, means controlling the exposure interval embodying therein a source of light, an arcuate rotatable contact member, contacts co-operating therewith to control the circuit to said source of light, a

source of mechanical power, means whereby GEORGE GOEBEL.

III 

